Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars released a new album & are now on tour (dates include Highline Ballroom)
photo by Jane Richey
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars played an intimate acoustic set at the University of Vermont’s Ira Allen Chapel on Tuesday [4/6], celebrating the release of their new album “Rise and Shine,” from Charlotte’s Cumbancha record label, and preparing for their performance at Higher Ground’s Showcase Lounge [on Wed 4/7].
About 100 people gathered in the chapel to watch a short excerpt from the film, “Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars,” [which tells the story of their experiences in Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war and the formation of the band]….After the screening, the band came out and played a couple of songs….The band took a quick break to answer questions from the audience about their music and the film, but jumped back into more music aafter only three short questions. The pews in the Ira Allen Chapel didn’t allow the audience much room to dance, but Alhadji Jeffrey Camara (aka Black Nature) took the microphone soon after the Q&A had ended and got everyone on their feet.
Bandleader/ Songwriter Reuben Koroma said that despite the long flight, the band was not tired, and was excited for [Wednesday’s] show. [Burlington Free Press]
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars kicked off their US trip, which runs into May, with a pair of shows in Burlington, Vermont.
They tour in support of their new record, Rise & Shine, which came out March 23rd on Cumbancha (and which you can preview here).
The group visits NYC for a show on Wednesday, April 14th at Highline Ballroom. Also on the bill are Bajah & The Dry Eye Crew and True Panther act and “Bubu King”, Janka Nabay. Tickets are still on sale.
Clips from the doc and new album promos, album cover art and all tour dates are below…
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars – Trailer
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars – High Hat
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars – Freetown and Beyond
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars – 2009 Tour Dates
Apr 10 Woodstock Town Hall Theatre Woodstock, Vermont
Apr 11 Harpers Ferry Allston, Massachusetts
Apr 12 World Cafe Live Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Apr 14 Highline Ballroom New York, New York
Apr 16 Spring Back to Vail Vail, Colorado
Apr 17 Granada Theater Dallas, Texas
Apr 18 Austin Reggae Festival at Auditorium Shores Austin, Texas
Apr 20 Flamingo Cantina Austin, Texas
Apr 21 Revolution Music Room Little Rock, Arkansas
Apr 22 The Hi Tone Cafe Memphis, Tennessee
Apr 23 Rites of Spring Music Festival Nashville, Tennessee
Apr 24 House of Blues New Orleans, Louisiana
Apr 25 Festival International de Louisiane Lafayette, Louisiana
Apr 27 Smith’s Olde Bar Atlanta, Georgia
May 02 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival New Orleans, Louisiana
May 05 Santa Fe Brewing Co. Santa Fe, New Mexico
May 06 The Green Room Flagstaff, Arizona
May 07 Rialto Theater Tucson, Arizona
May 08 Musical Instrument Museum Music Theater Phoenix, Arizona
May 09 Musical Instrument Museum Music Theater Phoenix, Arizona
May 11 Belly Up Solana Beach, California
May 12 The Roxy Theater West Hollywood, California
May 14 Moe’s Alley Santa Cruz, California
May 15 Amoeba Records (In Store Preformance) San Francisco, California
May 15 The Independent San Francisco, California
May 18 Tower Theater Bend, Oregon
May 19 Triple Door Seattle, Washington
May 20 Berbati’s Pan Portland, Oregon
May 22 Living Traditions Festival
